Xavier Preston is a 6-2, 220-pound linebacker prospect from Jensen
Beach (Fla.), who has recently been on a recruiting tear, picking up eight
offers over the past month and a half. Rutgers was among them, as they're in a
three-way battle for Preston's top spot, with North Carolina State and Louisville also
staking their claim. Preston has yet to visit any of his three leading schools, but he has been to USF for junior day, when he picked up an offer from the Bulls.

UCF, North Carolina State, Memphis, Illinois and Arkansas
State round out the schools to have extended offers to Preston, who will likely
end up playing along the outside in college.

"I've only seen Rutgers play, and that was good enough for
me," he said. "And I know they are big on academics. I definitely want to go
visit to learn more."

Louisville has emerged as one of Preston's leaders due to the
pipeline the school has established throughout the state of Florida, while N.C. State finds themselves also in a favorable position due to the amount of attention they have been showing Preston, as of late. However, according to the explosive linebacker, his recruitment is a long way from over.

One of the standouts at Nike Football Training Camp in
Orlando last month, Preston plans to leave his options open and take a hard
look at each school recruiting him.

"I'm in no rush, I'm just gonna take my time."

Rutgers linebackers coach, Dave Cohen, has inherited the
recruiting duties of parts of the Sunshine State, and is in the early stages of
developing a relationship with Preston. However, he certainly knows what caught
his eye when evaluating film of the Florida star.

Preston, who claims that "school pride and comfort-ability" are
his two main factors in selecting a school, had initially planned to visit
Rutgers this spring but transportation issues have moved his visit expectations
back until the summer.

He expects to camp at Rutgers, killing two birds with one
stone. This way, not only will he get to prove himself as one of the better
linebackers Rutgers is recruiting, but he'll also have an opportunity to experience
what life as a Rutgers student-athlete is like.